The New Nationalism in America and Beyond: The Deep Roots of Ethnic Nationalism in the Digital Age

Across the West, there has been a resurgence of ethnic nationalism, populism, and anti-immigrant sentiment—a phenomenon that many commentators have called the “new nationalism.” This book seeks to understand why the bastions of liberalism are proving to be fertile ground for a decidedly illiberal ideology. To do so, it examines three of the most successful exemplars of the new nationalism: Donald Trump in the US, Marine Le Pen in France, and Brexit in the UK. To understand the success of these new nationalists, it looks at the role of white majorities, their cultures, and their histories. Through a careful analysis of the social media campaigns of Trump, Le Pen, and the Brexit campaigners, the book shows how today’s new nationalists are cultivating support from white majorities by drawing from long-standing myths and symbols to construct an image of the nation as an ethnic community. This multidisciplinary approach—combining elements of political science, sociology, history, and communication and media studies—shows how leaders today are updating the historical foundations of ethnic nationalism for the digital age. This analysis helps us see that the success of Trump, Le Pen, and Brexit are only puzzling if we accept the myth that America, France, and Britain are liberal, civic nations. As the book demonstrates, each of these political communities has long been defined by a tradition of ethnic nationalism that continues to shape politics today. In short, the new nationalism is not so new.